Champions Curzon collect all 3 points at Shawbridge

Curzon Ashton came to town this weekend and showed why they are league champions in a 3-0 win over Clitheroe at Shawbridge.

Curzon were quickest out of the blocks and it took only four minutes for the first goal to arrive, albeit in a rather fortunate fashion. Ryan Watson hit a tame shot goalwards from range but a cruel bounce sent the ball spiralling away from the reach of Alex Palffy who could only watch on as the ball bounced into the goal.

Watson was threatening again soon after for Curzon, beating the offside trap and racing towards goal before lobbing a cross to the back post that could only be skewed high and wide on the volley by a stretching Mark Bett.

Charlie Collinge cleared the ball off his goal line on 23 minutes to prevent Curzon Ashton getting any further ahead, hacking Niall Cummins’ rebound effort away from goal after Palffy had saved Jordan Wright’s driven shot.

Only a matter of minutes after that fine piece of defending Curzon Ashton did double their lead through Samuel Walker. Cummins picked up the ball from a throw in deep into Clitheroe’s half before firing a driven effort across goal that was tapped in by the onrushing Walker.

Adam Freeland was the next defender to clear an effort off the line as half time approached. Danny Morton got caught in possession just outside the box but the Curzon Ashton effort could only find the feet of Freeland who prevented the scoreline increasing.

Clitheroe’s best chance of the first half came on the stroke of half time in the form of a Danny Wilkins free kick. Wilkins hit a low effort around the wall that bobbled on its way to goal, almost catching out Hakan Burton in the Curzon goal.

The second half started in the same vain as the first with Curzon piling on the pressure looking to increase their goal tally. Watson and Wright both hit efforts goalwards within five minutes of the restart but neither effort found the target and the score remained 2-0.

Ross Dent’s diving header on 54 minutes was one of few Clitheroe chances but his effort only managed to find the hands of Burton.

Shortly after the hour mark Chris Rowney wrapped up the game for Curzon Ashton, racing onto a ball over the top before hammering a venomous volleyed effort past Clitheroe’s Palffy.

On 69 minutes there was a brief chance of a goal as a Curzon Ashton defender almost mis-kicked a clearance into the path of Andy Eaton, only for the Curzon keeper to come racing out and pounce on the loose ball.

As the final few moments unfolded Curzon Ashton came close to scoring a 4th, rattling the post via a Ryan Watson effort after a clever flick on by Sam Walker. The chance wasn’t converted for Curzon but they wouldn’t have minded too much as they ran out 3-0 winners.